What kind of store would sell commercial vinyl tiles, and typically how much does it cost? I'm talking about the typical 1'x1' tiles you see in commercial buildings, schools etc. They are glued directly to concrete, then waxed over. They normally have a really basic looking pattern, nothing fancy. You can then use multiple colors of tiles together to make your own pattern.

I'm thinking this might be the best solution for my basement given I have a really rough and dirty concrete floor that cannot be cleaned (drywall dust mostly, and it's stick in the roughness of the floor, I can vacuum and broom all I want it never comes all out). I'm thinking these are not really that expensive, but really have no idea. There's also the type that comes in big rolls, but I imagine that is probably more expensive, I would rather just go with the standard tiles. I don't mean the peal and stick, but the ones where you have a bucket of glue and apply glue then stick them on.

oh'mike

01-24-2012 07:13 PM

Commercial Vinyl tile used to be about $1.00 a SF--I haven't installed it in a while--

Any tile supply house will have it---easy to install----Trowel down the latex adhesive---wait till it dries--place and press---rolling with a rented steel roller is recommended.

A heat gun or torch is handy---with heat the tile becomes as soft as putty and can be pressed over uneven parts of the concrete--Cutting around poles and odd shapes can be done easily with tin snips after warming the tile.

I'll have to look around, I just remembered we have a store dedicated to flooring, they might possibly have it. I'd have to go check.

Also another question, I know typically when a basement is finished the stud walls are built first, any rooms partitioned etc, then the flooring goes in. But is it permissible to put the floor in first and just build the walls right on top later down the line? I don't plan to finish the basement for a while given I have other things I need to spend money on, but I really want a floor I can walk on with just my socks, so I'd still like to at least floor the whole basement.

oh'mike

01-26-2012 06:04 AM

VCT is easy to put walls on top of--so go right ahead---

BeeTee

01-26-2012 02:44 PM

Did you level the floor? Have you thought about using pergo or something like that?

I can only speak of in the area where I live...

I had a very hard time finding the glue down commercial tiles. I ended up using the vinyl sheet which was very easy to work with. I only glued the edges.

Red Squirrel

01-28-2012 09:41 PM

The floor in general is fairly level, it's just that it has lot of indentations in it, mostly due to the glue that is there from the previous carpet. So I think with the VCT it will work out ok as it is slightly flexible and the glue should help to even out the floor. I did not get a chance to go look around yet to see if there's any in the area. Worse case scenario I can look at ordering online but that would probably cost a lot in shipping.

Red Squirrel

01-28-2012 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh'mike
(Post 835012)

VCT is easy to put walls on top of--so go right ahead---

Good to know, that's what I'll end up doing then.

joecaption

01-28-2012 09:45 PM

That style floring and sheet goods will mirror any flaws right thrugh the flooring.

oh'mike

01-29-2012 07:18 AM

One more thought----If there is a lot of old glue and crud on the surface of the concrete---you can rent a floor buffer with carborundum stones---that will quickly grind /knock off any of the crud you were unable to scrape off by hand.

I saw an installer who used an old fashioned electric hot plate (one burner stove) to warm the tiles--

Red Squirrel

02-01-2012 09:06 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joecaption
(Post 837468)

That style floring and sheet goods will mirror any flaws right thrugh the flooring.

Even flaws that are no more than 1mm high? Posted pic of floor to give better idea.

rusty baker

02-01-2012 09:17 PM

Yes, tile or sheet vinyl will draw down tight to the floor when the adhesive dries and all imperfections will show.

Red Squirrel

02-01-2012 10:08 PM

Hmm that's not good to hear, guess my solution wont work then. I had contacted a rental company about using a buffer on that but they said it would just muck up the discs and not work, and I'd end up going through a bunch of discs which I have to pay for. Would get expensive.

Any other solutions for this floor? At this point I just want anything flat that will not capture dirt and can be walked on with socks without getting super dirty. I also want to avoid carpet, since once my basement is done I may let my cat down there, and she has a chronic puking issue. I want something easy to clean. I don't care too much about looks.

I tried to see if I can get the glue off with a heat gun, but it's hard as a rock, it's almost like it's part of the floor and is cement.